The Virginia men's lacrosse team's pre-season scrimmage at Georgetown this past Saturday proved a battle of the defenses. With the majority of the match's 12 goals coming in the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers held their own and allowed only five, while the Hoyas gave up seven.
Although spectators usually find defensively-minded games somewhat less exciting, Virginia fans likely were pleased to see the Cavaliers mount a solid defensive effort without former goalkeeper Kip Turner or former defenseman Ricky Smith.
Since Turner and Smith served as the backbone of the Virginia defense last season, their graduation this past May could have had severe consequences for the back line. But although both are certainly missed, the current Cavalier defensemen do not seem fazed.
"We have a couple guys who didn't play last year but who could have started if we had needed them," senior goalkeeper Bud Petit said. "And we still have Mike Timms at long pole and Will Barrow at short stick, and they are two of the best in the country."
Petit also cited the friendships among members of the team as he talked about how the back line is adjusting to life without Turner and Smith. Being a close-knit group, the new defensive lineup has meshed well and worked hard together in practice.
"I do not think its going to be a problem," Petit said. "I think we have more speed and athleticism than we did last year actually so it is going to be good overall."
That said, Virginia coach Dom Starsia, as well as several members of the defense, saw room for improvement after the Navy scrimmage . To that end, practice has been and will continue to be intense up until the season opener at Drexel Sunday.
The question of who will start in goal Sunday remains to be decided. The choice appears to be between Petit and freshman Adam Ghitelman. Ghitelman, ranked the top goalie and overall No. 4 recruit in the country by Inside Lacrosse, started against Georgetown while Petit was in first against Navy. Sophomore Mark Wade also saw playing time in both scrimmages and looked solid during both.
"I thought all the goalies played well," Starsia said. "We don't have a lot to complain about there but that doesn't necessarily make my job any easier."
A veteran like Petit is invaluable to this Cavalier team, regardless of who wins the starting job in goal. With freshmen expected to make an immediate impact on the field, more experienced players must help them make the leap to collegiate lacrosse.
"I was one of the oldest guys on the team last year too so I just have to keep doing my part, keep the young guys in line a little bit," Petit said. "I can help let them know that it is just a game, and we are out here to have fun and to try and do our best and do it right."
With senior attack Ben Rubeor, a team captain and one of the top players in the nation, still sidelined and Turner and Smith no longer on the team, Virginia will look quite a bit different, both offensively and defensively, from its 2007 counterpart.
Nevertheless, with a new crop of athletes, the outlook remains positive as the season opener fast approaches.
"As a class, the freshmen are as good as everyone says they are -- if not better -- and that's a huge help for our team," Petit said. "They give us so much more depth and help to make us just that much better going into the season"
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